Stay ConnectedA smart, playful and interrogative take on contemporary fashion and its context – weaving together sartorial and social history to tell powerful, surprising stories of identity.
Hosted by Lucy Clayton together with a selection of special guests including designers, artists, writers, activists, academics and of course, the dresser uppers themselves, this show explores the way we dress in all its creative, sequinned and chaotic glory.
Copyright: © 2019 Lucy Clayton
Series seven commences with a super-niche, and super-indulgent, episode as Lucy transforms herself into Mariella Frostrup and interviews Ben about his new fancy dress-related tome, Carnival to Catwalk. To further allay isolation boredom, the episode also introduces the Dress: Fancy Costume Conundrum competition that will run throughout the series.
In a suitably festive episode, and to conclude this season's costume shenanigans, Lucy and Ben consider a form of cultural expression that always seems relevant: Victoriana. From the costumes of the Queen and Empress Victoria, via the bravura public readings of Charles Dickins, to a very contemporary interpretation of the 'Victorian Look' with the Japanese Lolita, this episode – possibly more than any other – shows how we really do love a theme!
Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
Lucy talks with Egyptologists Dr Colleen Darnell and Professor John Darnell to reflect on the enduring cultural and sartorial appeal of the land and history of Tutankhamen. From rampant consumerism to studied attention to detail, the conversation considers the use, and misuse, of all things Egypt from the Twenties to today. In this trans-Atlantic chat, topics include vintage dress, sustainability, and the practicalities of sticking to a clothing theme when house cleaning.
Fittingly, this episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon's evocative Cairo fragrance.
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Every year from the late-nineteenth century Covent Garden's Royal Opera House opened its doors for a night of costumed revelry. Urbanites from all social levels dressed up in the most creative of costumes and vied for some very special prizes, from grand pianos to bicycles. Lucy and Ben become very excited (more so than usual) as they become historical voyeurs. The episode is presented in conjunction with our partner Penhaligon's and their Iris Prima fragrance.
As ever, accompanying episode images are available on our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to the show, you'll surely know somebody else who would, so please spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
In this week's episode, Lucy and Ben begin a new mini-series that looks in-depth at the work of fashion designers whose clothing engages with themes we regularly explore through costume; chiefly identity and representation. We start by looking at the technically accomplished and creatively daring designs of award-winning British designer Craig Green.
Appropriately, this episode is brought to you in conjunction with our partner Penhaligon's and their bespoke fragrance service. So, if you are feeling sufficiently inspired by hearing about the creativity of Craig Green, this could be your opportunity to make a statement through scent... As ever, accompanying episode images on our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to the show, there's a good chance you'll know somebody else who would, so please spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
Dress: Fancy has yet to venture off-shore: until now. In this week's aquatic-themed episode, Lucy introduces Ben to the complex and beautiful world of the merpeople, a diverse community who dress as mermaids and mermen to seek personal and communal fulfilment in the water.
The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon's and their maritime-linked fragrance, Lothair. This intricate perfume is inspired by the famous Tea Clipper Ships that navigated the globe to bring exotic wares to Britain's shores.
As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you'll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
The City of London has many august traditions, but few are as beautiful, striking and good-natured as that of the Pearly Kings and Queens. Exploring the origins of the Pearlies, the meaning of their highly detailed, shimmering garments, Dress: Fancy were lucky enough to attend the Pearlies' most important annual event: the harvest festival.
For episode images see Instagram: @dressfancypodcast.
The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon's (@penhaligons_london) and their Empress fragrance, which is truly the Pearl Queen of their trade routes collection.
As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you'll probably know somebody else who would, too, so do spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in an upcoming episode.
Show notes
Little Podcast of Horror: Season Six commences on the year's biggest day for fancy dress: Halloween! Always looking to raise the costume stakes, Lucy and Ben consider costume inspiration from some unlikely sources, including the Pre-Raphaelites, Audrey Beardsley and an eighties footwear commercial that Lucy has still not got over. The episode is brought to you in conjunction with Penhaligon's (@penhaligons_london) and their seasonally-appropriate Elixir candle, which will assuredly fill any space with the magic, wonder and whimsy of Autumn and All Hallows Eve.
As ever, for accompanying episode images see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you'll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
Show notes
In this indulgent, nostalgic birthday episode, Lucy & Ben review a year's worth of super-niche, sequinned dressing up stories. Talking about the podcast's origins, they revisit their favourite episodes and re-live their most exciting excursions. The start of Season Six also comes with a very special announcement: Dress:Fancy is partnering with historic London perfumer Penhaligon's to make the costume drama even more immersive.
As ever, for accompanying episode images, see our Instagram feed at @dressfancypodcast. If you enjoy listening to Dress: Fancy, you'll probably know somebody else who would, too, so please spread the word. While you're at, leave a review on Apple iTunes, and provide a suggestion for a fancy dress theme you'd like us to cover in a future show.
In an especially glittering episode, Lucy and Ben discuss the costumes (off stage and on) of the inimitable Rocket Man, Elton John. Reviewing the Star's sartorial choices decade-by-decade, and comparing them to Julian Day's interpretations in the recent blockbuster biopic starring Taron Egerton, this week's show ponders the relationship between costume and character, as well as obviously highlighting some of Elton John's 'best-dressed' moments.
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